Help me get this show on the road (need better meetings, etc.)
May 28, 2022 1:02 PM Subscribe
I am a member of a volunteer task force. I am concerned about our time running out. Can you suggest any phrasing to the co-chairs or the group, to help us be more productive and efficient, or should I just try to just accept the situation?
We are concerned with a certain statewide issue. We’ve had three meetings and decided very little – to improve a certain bill, so that we are happier with it, but more importantly, so legislators will pass the bill.
The meetings so far seem to be mainly preliminaries and narrowing things down a bit from various other ways we could approach this issue. And then a big freeform discussion instead of being methodical. So, whatever we do decide might not be decided in the best way.
We have two more meetings set, for a total of 2.5 hours, a couple of weeks apart. And then we are finished, the end. After our most-recent meeting, I sent the co-chairs an e-mail suggesting that we break into small groups to tackle various aspects of our project (hopefully between the meetings of the full task force). The co-chairs didn’t reply to me at all.
In case it matters, I am a woman, and the two co-chairs are men. I don’t have any contact with the co-chairs or most of the rest of the group outside the task force meetings. This same task force had also been convened a couple of years ago, with the same people. I do have e-mail addresses for everyone.
We are concerned with a certain statewide issue. We’ve had three meetings and decided very little – to improve a certain bill, so that we are happier with it, but more importantly, so legislators will pass the bill.
The meetings so far seem to be mainly preliminaries and narrowing things down a bit from various other ways we could approach this issue. And then a big freeform discussion instead of being methodical. So, whatever we do decide might not be decided in the best way.
We have two more meetings set, for a total of 2.5 hours, a couple of weeks apart. And then we are finished, the end. After our most-recent meeting, I sent the co-chairs an e-mail suggesting that we break into small groups to tackle various aspects of our project (hopefully between the meetings of the full task force). The co-chairs didn’t reply to me at all.
In case it matters, I am a woman, and the two co-chairs are men. I don’t have any contact with the co-chairs or most of the rest of the group outside the task force meetings. This same task force had also been convened a couple of years ago, with the same people. I do have e-mail addresses for everyone.
Response by poster: I think the group as a whole is thinking we are going to somehow improve the legislation.
I would like us to work between the final two meetings of the full task force, in small groups to work on different aspects of the legislation. Do you have any phrasing that might move people toward that? Since the co-chiars blew me off? Or should I give the co-chairs a nudge.
I am at least doing research individually that I hope to send out to the group in a few days. That research will get some interested legislators.
Ugh.
posted by NotLost at 5:27 PM on May 28, 2022
I would like us to work between the final two meetings of the full task force, in small groups to work on different aspects of the legislation. Do you have any phrasing that might move people toward that? Since the co-chiars blew me off? Or should I give the co-chairs a nudge.
I am at least doing research individually that I hope to send out to the group in a few days. That research will get some interested legislators.
Ugh.
posted by NotLost at 5:27 PM on May 28, 2022
Best answer: I think you need to give the co-chairs a nudge in an email to the entire membership of the task force, using the research you are going to send out shortly. I'd come up with a few discrete tasks that you'd like to see the group do, implement them into the email, and put the ball in the court of the co-chairs. By sending the email to the group, perhaps the social pressure will put some umph into them getting something done.
It is unfortunate that women's voices are so easy to ignore in many of these situations. Good for you to keep pushing ahead in what must be a frustrating situation.
posted by furtheryet at 8:45 PM on May 28, 2022
It is unfortunate that women's voices are so easy to ignore in many of these situations. Good for you to keep pushing ahead in what must be a frustrating situation.
posted by furtheryet at 8:45 PM on May 28, 2022
Response by poster: I guess I should have just asked my wife in the first place. I forgot to do that. :)
posted by NotLost at 11:40 AM on May 29, 2022
posted by NotLost at 11:40 AM on May 29, 2022
You just need to do the work. Coalition work and volunteer work can be really confusing in that you think there is someone in charge when there actually usually is not. So you need to step up and do the research and drafting and planning and then jump on anyone who shows any sign of initiative and give them a role. Be sure to add in time for the task force to review and approve your work (with a concrete deadline).
posted by haptic_avenger at 10:52 AM on May 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by haptic_avenger at 10:52 AM on May 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
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Not knowing what your goals as a group are, I wonder if you're just expecting more from this than it can entail?
posted by sagc at 4:51 PM on May 28, 2022